Cumulative Risk of Psychological Distress in College Students Effected by Hurricane Harvey

Philip J,Betty Lai,Mary B

doi:10.12973/ejper.3.2.101

Abstract

<p style="text-align: justify;">This study examines the relationship between prior trauma and post disaster psychological distress in a sample of college students exposed to Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas in 2017. College students (n = 324) receive treatment for psychological problems at very low rates, so screening for the most vulnerable students after a disaster is important. While the relationship between prior trauma and post-disaster psychological distress is well established, the evidence for prior disaster exposure as a risk factor outside of other trauma is mixed. Prior trauma was divided into two cumulative risk style indicators: prior traumatic experiences (excluding disasters) and prior disaster exposure. In multiple linear regression models, prior traumatic experiences were significant predictors of post-disaster symptoms of both post-traumatic stress disorder and depression following the hurricane. Prior disaster exposures were not significant in either case. Implications for future screening and analysis of risk factors are discussed.</p>

Highlights

College students may be vulnerable to developing psychological distress following natural disasters
This study examines the relationship between prior trauma and post disaster psychological distress in a sample of college students exposed to Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas in 2017
The authors suggest this counterintuitive finding may be due to prior-disaster exposure preparing the adolescents to cope with the disaster and subsequent recovery, in effect providing some form of resilience. These mixed results show that the role of prior disaster exposure in post disaster psychological distress is still unclear. This paper addresses this important gap in the literature by examining whether prior-disaster exposure has a unique relationship with post disaster psychological distress or whether it is the accumulation of traumatic experiences that is important

Summary

Introduction

College students may be vulnerable to developing psychological distress following natural disasters. Estimates indicate 20.3% of college students, with only 16.4% of students effected receiving treatment (Auerbach et al, 2016). This low rate of treatment is especially concerning in the context of disaster related psychological distress. Disaster-related psychological distress has not been thoroughly examined in college students. The purpose of this study was to explore symptoms of psychological distress in a sample of college students following Hurricane Harvey in 2017. We sought to examine pre-disaster experiences of traumatic events, including previous exposure to other natural disasters, as risk factors for psychological distress symptoms

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Conclusion